My brother Jose was born with Down Syndrome 58 years ago and as his older sister I embarked in an everlasting mission of support, companionship and unconditional love. This has been mutual; we have learned from each other, we grew up and are growing old together. In my teen years he would sabotage my dates, insist on being included with my friends (at the time I was not thrilled by that). I learned to drive, went to college, married and had children; he was confused, he was not sure if he was an uncle. But he taught my children nursery rhymes with complex words that they could pronounce even if he couldn't. Later our mother died and I became a surrogate mother figure, he would look up to me and rely on my support. Years later our father also died and he realized he had his siblings, me and our younger brother and sister, of course all adults . Today he is battling kidney failure and I'm scared of losing the most unconditional love I have ever known. Our role as siblings is unique in every stage of out lives.

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